PWC Animal Control tells how to keep yourself and your family safe from the deadly rabies virus

Prince William County Animal Control says there are steps you can take to keep yourself and your family safe from rabies throughout the year. For example, more than 68 pets received rabies vaccinations Sept. 27, as part of the Animal Shelter’s 40th anniversary event, in partnership with the PWSPCA.

Rabies is a deadly virus that can kill anyone who gets it. Every year, an estimated 40,000 people in the U.S. receive a series of shots known as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) due to potential exposure to rabies. In addition, the U.S. public-health costs associated with rabies is estimated to be as high as $500 million annually. Rabies can be treated and prevented through vaccines.

People usually get rabies when they are bitten by an animal that has the virus. The animals that most often get rabies in the U.S. are wild, such as raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. The U.S. has been successful in eliminating a particular kind of rabies – known as canine rabies – that is responsible for rabies spreading from dog-to-dog.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself and Others from Rabies

1. Take pets to a veterinarian for rabies shots.
Take your pets to the veterinarian each year. A veterinarian can make sure your pets are up to date on their rabies shots, which can protect them from getting rabies. This is important, since animals that have not received a rabies shot and are exposed to rabies must be quarantined for six months, or put down.

2. Have your pet spayed or neutered.
This helps cut down on the number of unwanted and stray animals. These animals often do not have their rabies shot and are in close contact with wild animals.

3. Keep pets away from wildlife and unfamiliar animals.
More than 90 percent of all animal rabies cases reported each year occur in wild animals. One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to avoid contact with wild animals. Do not feed or handle them, even if they seem friendly.
Unfamiliar animals that are often thought of as pets – dogs and cats, for instance – also should be avoided. These animals are often in contact with wildlife and can also transmit rabies to humans.

4. If you see an animal acting strangely, report it to Animal Control at 703-792-6500. Some things to look for are:
 General sickness
 Problems swallowing
 Lots of drool or saliva
 A wild animal that appears tamer than you would expect
 An animal that bites at everything
 An animal that’s having trouble moving, or may even be paralyzed

5. Never pick up or touch dead animals.
The rabies virus may still be present in the saliva or nervous tissue, especially if the animal has been dead for only a short time.

6. Remain rabies-free in and around your home.
No matter where you live, rabies can threaten your family’s health. Things to do around the home to help reduce the risk of getting rabies are:
 Keep your pets indoors. When a dog goes outside, make sure an adult is there to watch it and keep it safe.
 Do not feed or put water for your pets outside, and keep garbage securely covered. These items may attract wild animals, or stray domesticated animals, to your yard.
 Teach children never to handle wild animals or unfamiliar domestic animals.

While most wild animals are found primarily outdoors, bats can sometimes fly into buildings. This includes your home and even the room where you sleep.

If you see a bat in your home, confine the bat to a room by closing all doors and windows leading out of the room except those to the outside. The bat will probably leave soon.

If not, approach it slowly, and when it lands place a box or coffee can over it.

Slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside. Tape the cardboard to the container securely.

Contact Animal Control at 703-792-6500 so the bat can be tested for rabies.